Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Parmenides', 'Analyzing Modality' and 'Against Liberalism'

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2 ideas

20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 4. Responsibility for Actions
Liberals say we are only responsible for fully autonomous actions [Kekes]
     Full Idea: The liberal view is that people can be held responsible only for actions that are in their control: actions that reflect the agents' unforced choices, evaluations, and understanding of their significance - that is, autonomous actions.
     From: John Kekes (Against Liberalism [1997], 01.5)
     A reaction: Kekes, who is a somewhat right wing anti-liberal, thinks people should be mainly held responsible for the consequences, unless they have a very good excuse.
Collective responsibility conflicts with responsibility's requirement of authonomy [Kekes]
     Full Idea: The ascription of collective responsibility is inconsistent with …the belief that people should be held responsible for only their own autonomous actions.
     From: John Kekes (Against Liberalism [1997], 04)
     A reaction: The autonomy would need to be displaced, from the decision to act to the decision of identify with the organisation. But if you invest in an evil group you are responsible for actions you never even knew occurred (never mind autonomy).